Gilas Pilipinas head coach Tim Cone is optimistic on how the Asian Games team would fare against some of the continent’s powerhouses, noting that the crew led by Adrian Nocum and Robert Bolick should be a lot of fun to watch in the Nagoya edition of the quadrennial meet.

The veteran mentor revealed that the Asiad-bound team won’t be using the same triangle offense he has with the Gilas FIBA team and instead will be using an up tempo and fast-paced system that would fit the team’s current all-PBA composition.

“From what I've seen from that team, they are a lot of fun to watch. I think the fans and our countrymen, I think they’ll have a lot of fun watching that team,” said Cone as he turned his focus to the country’s title-retention bid in Asian Games following a successful home stand in the 2027 FIBA World Cup Asian Qualifiers.

“It’s a different system, they are not playing my system. It’s more of an up tempo push the ball (style). They’ll be using their speed and quickness to get up and down the floor,” added the veteran mentor.

Although focused on the preparations of Gilas FIBA window squad, Cone had a glimpse of the quality of the Asiad-bound team, having played against them in two tuneup games — even beating – the Sotto-led Gilas in their first meeting.

The Gilas Asiad crew has been training for two weeks now with Gilas lead deputy Richard del Rosario along with fellow assistants Jong Uichico and Josh Reyes facilitating the training.

“It’s gonna be a pretty much different group of players playing this time. You come up with these windows like this, you are really exhausted with all the preparations you had to do and you got to turn around and get to the Asian Games,” said Cone, recalling the same dilemma the Gilas team under Chot Reyes had in the past.

“I remember the Chot’s team when they went to the World Cup, they played fabulous in the World cup in Spain and then they had to fly all the way to Korea and play the Asian Games and they just didn't have the energy to play after that grueling World Cup that they had,” he recalled.

“So the idea of bringing fresher guys motivated guys to come out and play and play for their country I think it’s a good idea,” he added.

Aside from Nocum and Bolick, who are expected to anchor the attack for Gilas, Sedrick Barefield is also part of the team alongside Don Trollano, Jerrick Ahanmisi, Brandon Ganuelas-Rosser, Brandon Bates, Sean Quitevis, Geo Chiu, and Zav Lucero.

RJ Abarrientos, Justin Arana and Justine Baltazar are also joining the crew. 

Gilas is scheduled to fly to Korea for a short training camp before flying to Nagoya for their group stage games against Kazakhstan, Bahrain and China.